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Rangers drew 1-1 at the Stade Velodrome in the return, coming within a whisker of reaching the Final against AC Milan.

McSwegan knows Pedro Caixinha’s squad doesn’t boast the same characters with the club in a very different place as they prepare to face Marseille in a friendly today.

Speaking on the latest Record Sport Rangers podcast the 46-year-old, now an agent, said: “It’s hard to believe that Marseille game was 25 years ago. It’s a million miles from where the club is now. You always think they can bounce back and do something along those lines in the future.

“But since relegation to the Third Division the recruitment hasn’t been good enough. The players brought in haven’t added any value to the squad.

Gary McSwegan celebrates his goal in the 2-2 draw with Marseille in 1992-93 (Image: Eurozen)

“Celtic have brought in players such as Virgil van Dijk, Victor Wanyama and Fraser Forster and made money – that has to be the blueprint for Rangers.

“Financially they might be struggling just now and there doesn’t seem to be anything coming through the youths. Celtic are beating them at every level. Pedro needs a season. He’s brought boys in and they need time to gel.

“But hopefully after this transfer window and maybe January we’ll see shoots of recovery.”

Marseille went on to lift the trophy but it later emerged controversial owner Bernard Tapie had fixed a French league game and they were stripped of the title, demoted and banned. Hateley claimed he’d been offered cash not to play against them.

McSwegan said: “It would have been great to play AC Milan in the Final. I’m not bitter but it’s frightening looking back at how close we came.”